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Paulo Mendes da Rocha: Retrospective Exhibition at Casa da Arquitetura de Matosinhos

12/06/2023

For several years now, QuartoSala has showcased the best of Brazilian design in its stores.

One of the iconic pieces in QuartoSala's catalog is the Paulistano armchair, designed by Paulo Mendes da Rocha (1928-2021), the most awarded Brazilian architect of all time: Mies Van der Rohe Award for Latin American Architecture, in 1999 and in 2000; 2006 Pritzker Architecture Prize; Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement of the Venice International Architecture Exhibition in 2016 and, in 2017, the Royal Gold Medal for architecture, awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

In Portugal, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, in partnership with MMBB Arquitetos and Bak Gordon Arquitectos, projected the Museu Nacional dos Coches (National Coach Museum) in Lisbon, which opened in 2015. This project is Mendes da Rocha's first building in Europe.

In 2020, he donated his entire estate to Casa da Arquitetura - Centro Português de Arquitetura, which now honors the architect with the exhibition “Geografias Construídas: Paulo Mendes da Rocha”. Additionally, a second exhibition titled “Paulo” is being held at Galeria da Casa, with both exhibitions running from May 26, 2023, to February 25, 2024.

The Paulistano armchair holds a prominent position within the exhibition, gracing the entrance hall of Casa da Arquitetura.

Paulo Mendes da Rocha established his office in 1955 and soon after created an early masterpiece, the Athletic Club of São Paulo (1957). It was during this same year that he designed the Paulistano Armchair specifically for the living rooms of the Athletic Club.

The Paulistano Armchair, made from a simple structure of cold-bent steel and 'wrapped' in a canvas cover, has been produced since 2004 by the French brand Objekto. The chair's cover is removable and replaceable, offering five different variants of materials and colors.

This icon of Brazilian Design is one of QuartoSala’s bestsellers.